Rocking or hobby horse



Oct. 8, 1929. F. w. BRACKETT 1,730,557

ROCKING OR HOBBY HORSE Filed March 5]., 1927 .Ezzreniar'.

Patented Oct. 8, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT'OFFICE FRANCIS WHITWELL BRAOKETT, F COLGHESTER, ENGLAND nocxme on I-VIOBBY ons application filed March 31, 1927, Serial No. 179,933, and. in Great Britain May 26, 1926.

It is an object of the present improvements to provide a toy horse, so arranged that the rider, by turning cranks with the feet. may cause the horse to rise and fall under the action of one or more cams, cranks, or eccentrics.

It is also an object to arrange a spring or springs, so that as the horse falls, the spring or springs will be compressed, and will assist the upward movement under the stroke of the crank-actuated cam or eccentric. By this means a more even movement on the pedal is maintained.

With these objects in view, the improve- Inent consists in the combinations hereinafter described and illustrated, and included in the claims.

Figure 1 is an elevation of one embodiment of the improvement.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical section on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view, similar to Fig. 1, but illustrating a modification.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view showing in section a modification of the cam and roll- Figure 6 shows a still further modification of the driving mechanism.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1', 2 and 3, the horse a is mounted on a hinge b at the rear on an upstanding pillar c from a base or frame d. On the underside of the horse is secured a forked lug e projecting downwardly and carrying within it a roller f whose periphery lies well within the edges of the lug. The lug receives the edge of a cam or elliptical roller g, mounted on an axle hin brackets j on the base and the roller f-rests upon the periphery of the cam. The axle h is provided with pedal cranks 70 so that. the axle and cam can be rotated by a rider seated on the saddle Z. Under this action the horse will rise and fall on its hinge b, the weight of the horse and rider bearing on the cam. To promote more life to motion of the horse, and to relieve the rider of excessive friction on the cam on the upstroke, I arrange a spring or springs m in compression between the horse and a suitable fixed part, such as a yoke 11- carried from the brackets j.

In the modification shown in Figure 4, the

crank axleh and cam g are mounted in an extended fork 0 on the horse, and the follower or roller is mounted between brackets p on the base, but the action is the same. The mounting of the horse and arrangement of the spring are as before described.

In the modification shown at Figure 5, the cam 9 consists of an elliptical wheel or disc with an annular channel or groove g in the side of its periphery, in which the roller 6 engages, the crank shaft being arrangedes in the centre of the wheel or camdisc as be fore. This arrangement retains the cam in engagement with the roller, otherwise the construction is as in the previous examples.

I In the modification shown at Figure 6, the .70 rising and falling action is effected by a crank dip 1' on the pedal shaft 8, to which is attached a rod tconnected at one end to the base or to the horse.

It is obvious that the base at may constitute a running frame by providing it with suitable wheels, and if desired, one pair may be driven by means of a chain from the crank axle and the other pair, or a single wheel may be arranged for steering.

I claim:

1.,A toy horse comprising, in combination, a horse, a base upon which the horse is hingedly mounted, mechanical means for raising and lowering the horse upon its hinge, pedal cranks actuating said means, and a spring between the horse and base, so that by the rotation of the cranks, the horse will rise and fall whilst maintaining an even movement on the cranks. I

2. A toy horse comprising in combination a base or running frame, a horse hinged to a part thereon, a crank axle, a cam mounted thereon, a following roller engaging the cam both disposed between the base and the horse, and a spring normally tending to raise the horse.

3. A toy horse, comprising in combination a base or running frame, a horse hinged to a part thereon, a crank axle, a cam mounted thereon, a following roller engaging the cam both disposed between the base and the horse, means for retaining said cam and said roller in engagement, and a spring normally tending to raise the horse.

4. A toy horse, comprising in combination a base or running frame, a horse"hinged to a part thereon, a crank axle, a cam mounted thereon, a following roller engaging the cam" both disposed between the base and the horse, means for retaining saideam and said roller in engagement, consisting of an annular groove in the side of the periphery of the cam in which the roller is housed, a bracket on the base, and a spring normally tending toraise the horse and arranged in compression between said bracket. and the horse. l

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

FRANCIS WmrwsLL BRACKET T. 

